DEVIL HOUSE

John Darnielle narrates an uneasy novel about a true-crime writer who is delving into the Satanic panic of the 1980s. A small town contains a sinister secret: An abandoned porn shop covered with occult graffiti was the site of a double murder. Gage Chandler is a true-crime writer who is eager to discover the human truths that push people to murder. The author himself reads the audiobook, but his narration is lacking. Darnielle has an unusual cadence that is off-putting, and the story's abrupt narrative shifts are difficult to stick with in audio form. Snippets of music and sound effects punctuate scenes, adding an engaging level of meta commentary. Darnielle's story is a unique blend of crime drama, horror adventure, and social commentary that is better read than listened to. J.M.M. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2022]